Nov. 25, 2008

Game Notes in PDF Format

CANCUN, Mexico - The Maryland women's basketball team hits the road Wednesday, when it begins a stretch of seven games away from the Comcast Center which will last until December 29. First up for the Terrapins is the Cancun Caribbean Challenge MTE in Cancun, Mexico, where they will face South Dakota State, Montana and Illinois.

Maryland is coming off a three-game homestand in which the Terps retained their home-winning streak, stretching it to 24 games with wins over Delaware State, James Madison and UCLA. Most recently, the Terps knocked off the Bruins by 20, 88-68, at the Comcast Center on Sunday afternoon.

In that contest, milestones were reached for two of the leaders of the Terps. Senior Marissa Coleman knocked down 22 points, helping her eclipse the 1,600 point plateau. Coleman because just the seventh player in program history to score that many points, and later in the game passed Jessie Hicks for sixth on the Terrapins' all-time list.

Meanwhile, senior Kristi Toliver put her 1,500th point in the books on Sunday, en route to a game-high 27 points. Toliver also dished out five assists, giving her 602 for her career. After becoming the Terps' all-time assists leader in the season opener at TCU, Toliver became the only Terp ever with 600 helpers.

Maryland will face three unfamiliar teams in Cancun this week. The Terps have never faced South Dakota State or Montana, each of which received votes in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Terps moved up to No. 10 in the poll. Meanwhile, Maryland and Illinois have not faced off since December 29, 1987, a Maryland victory. The Terps are 2-0 all-time against Illinois.

At 4-0 on the young season, South Dakota State is up first for the Terps. Maryland and the Jackrabbits will tip off the Challenge at 1:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, the Terps will take on Montana at 6:00 p.m., and they will do battle with the Illini at 8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

-TERPS-